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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: David

Penang, Malaysia

USD
$50-$70 per person

Flavors of authentic Nyonya cuisine in George Town

Host offerings
  • House
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet David

A former accountant who lived and worked in New York for 9 years, David is an avid chef. He opened and operated his own restaurant in his family’s "restored pre-war building" upon his return from the States. He was the chef for 5 years before he converted it into an inn that is presently run by his partner. David learned to cook from his mother, a hairdresser who operated her business out of their home. He fondly remembers being young and his mother yelling cooking instructions to him while she was working. David is very passionate and knowledgeable about cooking and is excited to share stories from his Chinese Malaysian heritage, cooking with his mother, and from his time spent living in London and New York.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Enjoy a local Nyonya dining experience in a pre-war building that David's family has lived in for four generations, since 1930. After you learn about Nyonya culture, cuisine and cooking techniques, join David at his dining table for a home style meal. Nyonya cuisine is comprised of sauces made from coconut milk, tamarind and curry pastes of freshly-pounded shallots, garlic, lemongrass and ginger. Your menu might include dishes such as Penang-style spring rolls filled with crab and mushrooms and served with a homemade Worcestershire dipping sauce, green curry with white rice, boneless fried chicken with bean paste and kaffir lime leaves, lar mee (noodles in a fish stock with prawns, crab, and pork, also called 'birthday noodles' as they are usually only made on special occasions) or fried prawns served with pineapple, cucumber, and kaffir lime salsa.

Notes: Please note that David also hosts Airbnb guests at his home. You might see other travelers while you are there, however your culinary experience will be private.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Spring rolls with crab meat
  • Fish with pineapple, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime and fish sauce
  • "David's Green Curry" with white rice
  • Butter prawns with spicy mint fish sauce
  • Homemade caramel egg custard
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Eating dinner in David’s home felt like I was invited to be a part of his family for one night. David lives in a large home on the outskirts of central George Town that his family has lived in for several generations. Upon entering, I was shown photographs of the family’s ancestors that had lived in the house and was given a short tour of the first floor and history of the antique floor tiles. David’s kitchen was large enough for me plus 2-3 others to comfortably stand and watch him cook as well. Food was very good – I loved everything I ate. I enjoyed the Penang style spring rolls filled with crab and mushrooms & a homemade Worcestershire dipping sauce the most – this was interesting to me because it spoke about Penang’s British influence in Penang. Worcestershire sauce is not a common condiment found with Asian cooking however David said the Chinese immigrants to Penang worked in British kitchens and picked up on this recipe and still use it today. Each dish was served in a row as it was ready, and David’s family explained the ingredients and history. Overall I loved the experience and was reminded of my own family gatherings. I really felt as if the family was genuine in their warmth and invitation into their home—I would definitely recommend the experience to anyone else!

Roxanne, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
You know you have had a good evening when you smile remembering it, we were greeted warmly on arrival and the friendship, chatter and laughter continued until we left. We were treated to a huge array of delicious dishes all with a story and complimented each other perfectly- a master class in how to roll the perfect Penang Spring Roll - to chicken that was so tasty and tender, everything was delicious. We met and dined with the whole family which was wonderful especially meeting grandma who was delightful. We came away feeling like we’d been made part of the family and will treasure the memories for a long time.
- MariaTalavera27 January 30, 2019
The entire experience was amazing. David cooked one of the best meals that I have had in a long time. Just when I though that the meal could not get any better, he would bring out another dish to prove me wrong. But what really made the experience exceptional was David and family. It really made the experience an authentic local one because of his family's long history in Penang. They made me and my wife feel right at home.
- Jeff November 04, 2017

David

$50-$70 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $70 $60 $50
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $70 $60 $50
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm

Meet David

A former accountant who lived and worked in New York for 9 years, David is an avid chef. He opened and operated his own restaurant in his family’s "restored pre-war building" upon his return from the States. He was the chef for 5 years before he converted it into an inn that is presently run by his partner. David learned to cook from his mother, a hairdresser who operated her business out of their home. He fondly remembers being young and his mother yelling cooking instructions to him while she was working. David is very passionate and knowledgeable about cooking and is excited to share stories from his Chinese Malaysian heritage, cooking with his mother, and from his time spent living in London and New York.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Enjoy a local Nyonya dining experience in a pre-war building that David's family has lived in for four generations, since 1930. After you learn about Nyonya culture, cuisine and cooking techniques, join David at his dining table for a home style meal. Nyonya cuisine is comprised of sauces made from coconut milk, tamarind and curry pastes of freshly-pounded shallots, garlic, lemongrass and ginger. Your menu might include dishes such as Penang-style spring rolls filled with crab and mushrooms and served with a homemade Worcestershire dipping sauce, green curry with white rice, boneless fried chicken with bean paste and kaffir lime leaves, lar mee (noodles in a fish stock with prawns, crab, and pork, also called 'birthday noodles' as they are usually only made on special occasions) or fried prawns served with pineapple, cucumber, and kaffir lime salsa.

Notes: Please note that David also hosts Airbnb guests at his home. You might see other travelers while you are there, however your culinary experience will be private.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Spring rolls with crab meat
  • Fish with pineapple, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime and fish sauce
  • "David's Green Curry" with white rice
  • Butter prawns with spicy mint fish sauce
  • Homemade caramel egg custard
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Eating dinner in David’s home felt like I was invited to be a part of his family for one night. David lives in a large home on the outskirts of central George Town that his family has lived in for several generations. Upon entering, I was shown photographs of the family’s ancestors that had lived in the house and was given a short tour of the first floor and history of the antique floor tiles. David’s kitchen was large enough for me plus 2-3 others to comfortably stand and watch him cook as well. Food was very good – I loved everything I ate. I enjoyed the Penang style spring rolls filled with crab and mushrooms & a homemade Worcestershire dipping sauce the most – this was interesting to me because it spoke about Penang’s British influence in Penang. Worcestershire sauce is not a common condiment found with Asian cooking however David said the Chinese immigrants to Penang worked in British kitchens and picked up on this recipe and still use it today. Each dish was served in a row as it was ready, and David’s family explained the ingredients and history. Overall I loved the experience and was reminded of my own family gatherings. I really felt as if the family was genuine in their warmth and invitation into their home—I would definitely recommend the experience to anyone else!

Roxanne, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
You know you have had a good evening when you smile remembering it, we were greeted warmly on arrival and the friendship, chatter and laughter continued until we left. We were treated to a huge array of delicious dishes all with a story and complimented each other perfectly- a master class in how to roll the perfect Penang Spring Roll - to chicken that was so tasty and tender, everything was delicious. We met and dined with the whole family which was wonderful especially meeting grandma who was delightful. We came away feeling like we’d been made part of the family and will treasure the memories for a long time.
- MariaTalavera27 January 30, 2019
The entire experience was amazing. David cooked one of the best meals that I have had in a long time. Just when I though that the meal could not get any better, he would bring out another dish to prove me wrong. But what really made the experience exceptional was David and family. It really made the experience an authentic local one because of his family's long history in Penang. They made me and my wife feel right at home.
- Jeff November 04, 2017
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $70 $60 $50
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $70 $60 $50
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

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    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

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    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

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    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

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